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If a clinical psychologist graphs the scores of patients on the Beck Depression Inventory and wants to see if the patients responded divergently (some positively affected and others negatively affected by a therapy), what specific data distribution shape should they look for, and what visual tool would they use to detect it?
Question: If a clinical psychologist graphs the scores of patients on the Beck Depression Inventory and wants to see if the patients responded divergently (some positively affected and others negatively affected by a therapy), what specific data distribution shape should they look for, and what visual tool would they use to detect it?
Sample answer: The psychologist should look for a bimodal distribution. They would use a histogram to visually detect the two distinct peaks representing the divergent subsets.
Key points:
- Identify the target shape as a bimodal distribution.
- Specify the histogram as the visual tool used to examine the distribution shape.
- Explain that the histogram allows the researcher to identify the two distinct peaks.
Rubric: Grading Criteria: The student must identify the bimodal distribution as the target shape and specify the histogram as the visual tool used to detect the two peaks.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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If a clinical psychologist graphs the scores of patients on the Beck Depression Inventory and wants to see if the patients responded divergently (some positively affected and others negatively affected by a therapy), what specific data distribution shape should they look for, and what visual tool would they use to detect it?